Images

The leading edge of the June 27th lava flow plunged into a deep crack on Kīlauea's East Rift Zone last week, and lava within the crack remained hidden for several days. Over the past day, lava returned to the surface at a point slightly farther along the crack, creating a small island of lava surrounded by thick forest.

Map showing the June 27th flow in Kīlauea's East Rift Zone as of August 22, 2014. The area of the flow as mapped on August 12 is shown in pink, while widening and advancement of the flow as of August 22 is shown in red. The heavy brown line marks the extent of steaming along a ground crack into which lava is flowing.

Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō crater remains partly obscured by thick fume. The thermal camera today revealed that several lava ponds persist in their usual locations in the northeast and southeast portions of the crater floor.

Lava from June 27 breakout flowing into deep ground crack along Kīlauea's East Rift Zone, Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō, Hawai‘i.

Preview image for video: shows the southern front of the June 27th lava flow from Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō. Lava here has flowed into a deep crack on Kīlauea's East Rift Zone. The line of steam extending out from the visible flow margin at the surface is inferred to be caused by lava deep within the crack.

A closer look at the lava stream plunging into the crack. The lava is fed from the vent on Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō via a lava tube.

North of where lava is entering the crack, another lobe is pushing through thick forest, triggering small brush fires. The source of the smoke marks the front of this lobe, and Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō can be seen just above this spot.

A closer look at one of the steam sources. The crack from which steam is issuing is not visible through the thick vegetation.

This image shows a broad overview of activity at the front of the June 27th lava flow. Steaming in the lower-center portion of the photograph issues from a crack on the East Rift Zone. A portion of the lava flow has entered this crack, and the steaming extends out 1.4 km (0.9 miles) from the visible flow margin at the surface.

Looking west, this photo shows the far end of the steaming that extends out beyond the visible flow margin at the surface.

A view looking east, near the front of the southern lobe that has entered the crack. Lava is inferred to be present in the deep crack beyond the visible margin of the flow, based on the line of steam sources as well as a vigorous cascade of lava seen in a skylight in the bottom portion of the photo.

The surface flows active at the front of the June 27 lava flow are fed from lava flowing through a lava tube. This collapse of a portion of the roof has produced a skylight, and a direct view of the fluid lava stream several meters (yards) beneath the surface.

The June 27 lava flow remains active as a narrow lobe pushing through thick forest northeast of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō, triggering small brush fires. This view is to the east, with the forested cone of Heiheiahulu partly obscured by the smoke plume from this angle. The flow front today was 8.7 km (5.4 miles) northeast of the vent on Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō.

Another skylight and view into the tube supplying lava to the front of the June 27 lava flow.

A remarkable perched lava pond was active on the June 27 lava flow more than a month ago. On August 12 a small lava flow erupted from the rim of the inactive pond, with the flow presumably originating from fluid lava that remained in the perched pond interior.

Greg Javar snaps a "selfie" while helping USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist Matt Patrick (right) set up a thermal camera to record lava lake activity within the summit vent of Kīlauea Volcano.

Portions of the June 27 lava flow continue to expand and cover older flows from Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō.

The June 27 flow remains active, and has advanced further into the forest over the past week. The flow front today was 8.5 km (5.3 miles) northeast of the vent on Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō (see "map" link above for current flow field map). The flow's continued brisk advance rate is likely related, in part, to its continued confinement by local topography.

A skylight reveals the fluid lava stream within the main tube on the June 27 lava flow. The recently active perched lava pond is in the upper left portion of the photograph.

Another view of the flow front, looking east. The small bump on the horizon, near the center of the photograph, is the forested cone of Heiheiahulu.

Thick fume continues to obscure views into Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō Crater with the naked eye. The thermal camera has proven useful recently to see the hidden activity, which includes several small lava ponds (see thermal image from the July 29 overflight, below).